The Size of our hearts

12

I rinsed the soap of the last plate and put it to dry. I walked over to the sitting room and collapsed on the couch. My Dad had gone to bed and it was finally time for me to watch my Vampire Diaries re-runs, I picked up the remote about to turn on the TV when someone knocked on the door.

I picked up my phone to find out it was 11:30, I wondered who would be coming over at this time. I dropped the remote and walked over to the front door. I peered through the whole to see a boy in a black hoodie, It was Jafaar, I unlocked the door slowly as not to wake up my Dad.

I opened the door slightly and slid through the tiny space, before closing the door behind me. I crossed my hands over my chest as I remembered I wasn't wearing a bra.

He turned around and pushed his hood down to reveal his dark hair. "Hey" I whispered, trying to hide the odd nature in my voice. "I'm leaving Nigeria" I looked up at him as my eyes grew wider.

"Why.." I began as my voice grew weak, as I hadn't thought about my response

"Neveah when I first came to Simul, The only thing I was moved by was my anger, but I couldn't be angry around you and I couldn't really understand why..." "I tried being sarcastic, rude anything to just fill the space I left empty when it came to you"

I took in a deep breath and looked up at him. "I guess I'm saying I like you and... I'm um I'm going to be thinking about you and I wanted you to know that before I left"

My lips quivered, I didn't know what to say to him. "When are you leaving" I finally decided to say something. "Now. My taxi is outside, I'm going back to Arabia, I had a feeling you were going to ask this question next."

I smiled and looked down at my fingers and laced them together. He stepped forward and kissed me on the forehead and lowered his head until his lips were lingering in front of mine. I stood still and kept my mouth closed as I was still very aware that I had just finished eating onion rings.

He looked down to realize it was almost 12 am. He whispered the words "I could do this for the next six hours" before gently placing his lips on mine, he put his cold palm to my face as I wrapped my arms around his neck and realized for the first time how attracted I was to him.

He pulled away and put his forehead to mine and closed his eyes "Bye, princess" and before I could say a word, he was down the steps and out the front gate.

Suddenly I didn't feel like watching Damon Salvatore sweep Elena Gilbert off her feet I just wanted to sleep off to the thought of my first kiss.

and that is exactly what I did.

****

I walked into math class to see Hamid looking more cheerful than usual, I think he was actually smiling-sort of. I walked past him and sat down in Jafaar's old chair. Jafaar's old seatmate Miryam sat down beside me, obviously disappointed with her partner for the day. I picked up my bag and went back to my old seat. I dropped my bag and sat down. Hamid scoffed and picked up his textbook "and here I was thinking you would follow your boyfriend"

"Go to hell" I said quietly as the teacher walked into the class room.

"Someone's not in a good mood" He said as he raised his eyebrows and looked at me.

"Can you just not today" I snapped back a little too loud, getting the attention of our teacher.

Hamid didn't speak to me again.

I answered all my questions and ignored all the occasional stares I got from Hamid.

****

I walked out of math class and thought about Kiyana for the sixth time since the day started. I looked over at the notice board and saw a list of new after school clubs I could sign up for.

I scrolled down the list and put my name down for Basketball and Singing and decided to make more friends as I had come to terms with never seeing Kiyana again and not to mention Jafaar .

I checked my timetable, chemistry.

This was a free period for me, I wanted to go relax under the bleachers but remembered I hadn't done my literature homework so I headed for the library instead.

Thirty minutes had gone by and I had only put down two words, Why Romeo was so dumb as not to confirm Juliet had received his letter was beyond me. Truthfully, I was thinking of Jafaar.

I smiled at the thought of him being so close to me, but that smile quickly faded as I noticed who had taken their seat a few chairs down from mine. I wanted to ask him why Jafaar left but decided getting involved with Hamid had never ended well for me.

I looked down at my notebook and was finally able to think of something.

The bell rang for literature as I finished up my last paragraph. I packed up my books and headed for the door. "Neveah" I turned around to face Hamid. "What" I asked quickly as to pass on the message that I didn't have his time.

"Do you even know why Jafaar left"

"I suppose you're about to tell me" I said sarcastically

"Let's just say he's gone because of me" He smiled before tilting his head back and crossing his arms over his broad chest in way that made his pride even more evident.

You're telling me this why" I said as calmly as possible.

"Just thought you'd like a hint because you're obviously ignorant to the fact that you'll never see him again" I stood silently for a while and stared at him then decided that my literature class was more important than what that jerk had to say.

*****

I was sitting in class and found out that our teacher wouldn't be in today, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Kiyana, 'Hey can we meet up' for the sixth time since she left. I was already about to put my phone in my pocket when I felt my phone vibrate.

I looked down at my phone to see a WhatsApp message from Kiyana. 'Yeah um today at 6:30 at City Park' I smiled and texted her that I'd be there.